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The Sylvania Times
Wednesday, August 30, 2023 - Page 5
NO OBITUARIES REPORTED THIS WEEK
Biden Invests $150M to Connect Underserved
and Small Acreage Forest Landowners to
Emerging Climate Markets as part of Investing
in America Agenda
Recently, Agriculture
Secretary Tom
Vilsack announced the
U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s Forest
Service is making $150
million from President
Biden’s Inflation
Reduction Act, the largest
climate investment in
history, available to help
underserved and small
acreage forest landowners
connect to emerging
voluntary climate markets.
These markets can provide
economic opportunities for
landowners and incentivize
improved forest health and
management. Secretary
Vilsack announced the
funding opportunity at the
Sustainable Forestry and
African American Land
Retention Conference on
the heels of the one-year
anniversary of the Inflation
Reduction Act. This
builds on investments in
the President’s Bipartisan
Infrastructure Law for
forest health treatments,
including through the
creation of competitive
grants to non-Federal forest
landowners.
Forests are powerful tools
in the fight against climate
change, and emerging
voluntary private-sector
markets are now creating
economic incentives
to keep forests healthy
and productive through
reforestation, improved
forest management,
and other sustainable
practices. However, high
acreage requirements
and prohibitive start
up costs have caused
many small-acreage and
underserved private forest
owners to be left behind.
The investments being
announced today will
expand access to markets
that were previously
out-of-reach, allowing
underserved and small-
acreage forest landowners
to address climate change
while also supporting rural
economies, maintaining
land ownership for future
generations, and protecting
private forestlands from
increasing development
pressure.
“Healthy, resilient
forests store carbon,
provide critical habitat for
wildlife, and grow forest
resources that are the
lifeblood of communities
across the country,” said
Secretary Vilsack. “So
much of our nation’s forest
land is privately owned,
and, thanks to historic
resources made possible by
President Biden’s Investing
in America agenda, these
private landowners will
have an opportunity to be
part of the solution to the
climate crisis, no matter
their background and no
matter their means.”
“Working forests are
the cornerstone of local
economies and play a key
role in mitigating the effects
of climate change,” said
Forest Service Chief Randy
Moore. “As private forest
landowners face increasing
pressures to convert their
forests to other uses, we are
helping underserved and
small acreage landowners
to access new economic
opportunities to ensure
working forests remain
intact. “Without financial
incentives, underserved and
small-acreage landowners
may not have the resources
to manage forests for
long-term health and
resilience. Without proper
management, forests are
more susceptible to pest,
disease, catastrophic
wildfire, loss of wildlife
habitat, and reduced water
quality for downstream
users.”
Without financial
incentives, underserved and
small-acreage landowners
may not have the resources
to manage forests for
long-term health and
resilience. Without proper
management, forests are
more susceptible to pest,
disease, catastrophic
wildfire, loss of wildlife
habitat, and reduced water
quality for downstream
users.
The Inflation Reduction
Act is the largest
investment in climate
action and resilience in
history. The law is part of
the Biden-Harris Investing
in America agenda to grow
the American economy
from the middle out and
bottom-up up by rebuilding
our nation’s infrastructure.
driving more than
$500 billion in private
sector manufacturing
investments, creating good
paying jobs, and building
a clean energy economy
to tackle the climate crisis
and make our communities
more resilient.
The Inflation Reduction
Act also advances
President Biden’s Justice40
Initiative, which sets a goal
of delivering 40% of the
overall benefits of federal
climate, clean energy,
and other investments
to disadvantaged
communities that
are marginalized and
overburdened by pollution
and underinvestment.
Eligible entities include
Tribal governments and
organizations, states,
local governments, public
and private non-profits,
and for-profit entities.
Please see the Notice of
Funding Opportunities
(NOFO) for details on
eligibility, deadlines, and
proposal requirements
for the first phase of the
Forest Service’s new
Landowner Support for
Forest Resilience Program,
funded by the Inflation
Reduction Act.
The USD A Forest
Service anticipates future
funding opportunities,
including one specifically
targeted to engage tribal
nations.
USDA touches the lives
of all Americans each
day in so many positive
ways. In the Biden-
Harris Administration,
USDA is transforming
America’s food system
with a greater focus on
more resilient local and
regional food production,
ensuring access to healthy
and nutritious food in all
communities, building
new markets and streams
of income for famiers
and producers using
climate-smart food and
forestry practices, making
historic investments in
infrastructure and clean-
energy capabilities in rural
America, and committing
to equity across the
Department by removing
systemic barriers and
building a workforce more
representative of America.
To learn more, visit www.
usda.gov.
Let the
Music
Sjzeafi
By Sam Eades, Publisher/
Writer
far
The Times
samsylvaniatimes@gmail.com
Guide me, O thou
Great Jehovah
How many times have you been on a walk through the
woods and wondered how you would react if you were lost?
I remember one instance at the age of 15, while walking
through my families property, this actually happened to
me. You see, my grandparents owned over 300 acres and
as a child, I loved to walk and discover new things. Along
with being amazed at the different shapes of trees, and the
different paths available to walk, I found items from old
indian arrows, to junk, and even old family graves.
On this one particular occasion, I found that I had been
walking for quite some time and really didn't know what
part of the property I was on. I was reminded of the verse
in Isaiah 4 that says, "Fear not, for I am with you; be not
dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will
help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
I simply asked that he help me find my way and, of course,
he did. He took me by my right hand and walked me back
home.
" The hymn, "Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah" is one
of those hymns reminding me of how the Lord guided me
that day.
This hymn, was written by William Williams at the age
of 28 in 1745. He was born in Wales, to John and Dorothy
Williams in 1717. This hymn has been used for worship
in congregations all over the world, including Episcopal
Churches.
Williams beautifully uses imagery from the Old Testament
book of Exodus to conjure a theme of God’s guidance
through struggle. Williams grew up as an Independent and
later a calvinist ( a denomination of Protestants that adhere
to the theological traditions and teachings of John Calvin
during the Reformation era.) But, he had no intention of
being a minister. If Isaac Watts is known as the father of
English hymnody.
William Williams is
considered by many
to be the father of
Welsh hymnody.
In 1738 he heard a
sermon by revivalist
preacher, Howell
Harris, a fiery Welsh
layman who had
been influenced
by the Methodist
movement in
England. It was
through this sermon
that Williams
discerned his calling
William Williams
to go finally go into the ministry.
Williams first pursued becoming an Anglican priest and
entered as a deacon in 1740. In 1744, after being accused
of various misdemeanors against the Church of England,
Williams devoted himself fully to Methodism. The hymn
text was written soon after this in 1745. While it is still a
mystery as to why Williams began composing hymn-texts
in his native tongue. United Methodist Hymnal editor Dr.
Carlton Young states that he became known as the most
famous hymn writer of Welsh Methodism. Elements of the
hardship Williams experienced as a traveling minister can
be found throughout the hymn.
I ask you to reflect on times you have struggled with
guidance or hardships. May the words of this hymn be a
beacon to get you through those times.
Guide me, O thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
Hold me with thy powerful hand:
Bread of heaven.
Feed me till I want no more.
Open now the crystal fountain
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through:
Strong deliverer.
Be thou still my strength and shield.
When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of deaths, and hell’s destruction.
Land me safe on Canaan’s side:
Songs of praises,
I will ever give to thee.
Musing on my habitation.
Musing on my heav’nly home.
Fills my soul with holy longings:
Come, my Jesus, quickly come;
Vanity is all I see;
Lord, I long to be with Thee!
Lord, I long to be with Thee!
Sanders Monument Company
Producers of high quality monuments and markers
Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green
pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths
of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou
preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my
cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will
dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
1484 Halcyondale Road Kenneth & Stacy Sanders
Sylvania, GA 30467 Owner/Operators
(912) 425-7870 sandersmonumentco@gmail.com
(912) 451-6382 sandersmonument.com